Archive · 3 Aug 2026
Daily Briefing: 3.96 Lakh Pending Drug Cases, NDPS Courts Ordered
India’s government wants to finish a huge pile of drug‑court cases faster.
They said every state must open special courts that only handle drug cases.
Right now only 65 such courts exist, and 22 states still don’t have one.
The plan also asks states to report how they’re doing and may use quick meetings to speed up trials.
The move comes after six months of meetings and is part of a bigger plan to fight drugs in the country.
Union Home Ministry directs all states to set up exclusive NDPS courts to speed up 3.96 lakh pending narcotics cases.
Only 65 exclusive NDPS courts are operational nationwide, with 22 states yet to establish dedicated courts.
States with high pendency—Punjab, Kerala, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh—have been asked to open more courts.
The Ministry also seeks compliance reports and may use pre‑trial conferences to expedite trials.
The move follows six months of review meetings and is part of a broader anti‑drug strategy.
- Who
- Union Home Ministry and Narcotics Control Bureau
- What
- Orders all states and Union Territories to set up exclusive NDPS courts to speed up trials
- When
- As of the article’s publication
- Where
- Across India, in all states and Union Territories
- Why
- To reduce the backlog of 3.96 lakh pending narcotics cases
- Pending NDPS cases
- 3.96 lakh
- Operational NDPS courts
- 65
- States yet to set up courts
- 22
- High‑pendency states
- Punjab, Kerala, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh
- Action
- Establish exclusive NDPS courts across India